Tag: Bears tight end

SI says Leonard Floyd, Trey Burton are on hot seat in 2020

Just about a month away from the new league year, the Bears don’t have long to free up some salary cap space heading into free agency.

We’re just about a month away from the new league year, which means the Bears don’t have long to free up some salary cap space heading into free agency.

When discussing potential cap casualties this offseason, cornerback Prince Amukamara tops the list. He’s due to make $10 million in 2020, and the Bears can save $9 million by releasing him.

Aside from Amukamara, who are some Bears players that could find themselves looking for a new team this spring?

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer believes outside linebacker Leonard Floyd and tight end Trey Burton could find themselves without a job in Chicago.

Bears LB Leonard Floyd: The Bears thought a breakout season was coming from Floyd in 2019. Instead, he finished with three sacks. I’m sure GM Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy would like to give the former top-10 pick another year. The trouble, for the cap-strapped Bears, is that his $13.2 million lump-sum option for 2020 would be an easy place to yield a significant amount of financial breathing room.

Bears TE Trey Burton: Chicago has a tight cap situation, and Burton’s coming off a rough year that ended on IR. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Bears conduct a complete overhaul at his position.

The Bears have said they feel good about Floyd — although they note that they’d like to see more production out of him in terms of sacks. But are they ready to shell out $13.2 million to an unproven edge rusher rather than spend that money elsewhere and target a young prospect in the NFL Draft?

Given that Floyd’s fifth-year option was guaranteed only for injury, the Bears could get out of that deal before March 18.

Then there’s Burton, who came to Chicago with high expectations two years ago. While he was productive in 2018, injury ultimately sidelined him in 2019.

While cutting Burton would certainly help Pace move on from what appears to have been a mistake, it would only free up $1.05 million in cap space and cost the Bears a $7.5 million in dead money. Next year would be an entirely different story. If Chicago cuts him then, it can save $7.1 million in cap space, with a $1.75 million dead-money hit.

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TE Cole Kmet is a ‘must watch’ prospect for Bears

The Bears could be the first team to draft a tight end in April, which means that they’ll have their pick of TE prospects in the NFL Draft.

The Bears have a plethora of needs on the offensive side of the ball. But one of the most important that has eluded them has been at the tight end position.

The Bears could very well be the first team to draft a tight end in April, which means that they’ll have their pick of prospects at the position that had snake-bitten the Bears last season.

NFL.com believes that Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet is a “must watch” prospect for a Bears team desperate for an answer at the position.

The Bears’ biggest need on offense is tight end. There are several guys who would fit well in Matt Nagy’s scheme, including Purdue’s Brycen Hopkins, but why not aim for the best TE in his class in Kmet?

Considering the importance of the tight end in Matt Nagy’s offense, the Bears offense needs to find stability at the position. Last season, Bears tight ends combined for 46 receptions, 416 yards and one touchdown in 2019.

But it was the disappointing outings by Trey Burton and Adam Shaheen — before they landed on injured reserve — that was most disconcerting. The Bears can’t rely on their health or their production, which is why it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Chicago address tight end both in free agency and the NFL Draft.

Who knows, perhaps Cole Kmet is the young tight end that will finally kickstart Nagy’s offense.

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Colts moving on from TE Eric Ebron, should the Bears pursue him?

Upgrading the TE position will be one of the top priorities for Bears GM Ryan Pace this offseason, and Eric Ebron is now available.

Upgrading the tight end position will be one of the top priorities for Bears general manager Ryan Pace this offseason. And an intriguing talent will be hitting free agency this year.

Eric Ebron, who spent the last two seasons with the Colts, won’t be returning to Indianapolis next season. That much was confirmed by Colts general manager Chris Ballad and Ebron himself.

When asked about Ebron on Thursday, Ballard said, “We’ll probably move on.” Ebron also tweeted the following, a clear indication that he’s hitting the open market.

Given the Bears need at tight end, should Pace pursue Ebron in free agency?

While Ebron’s production in his second season with the Colts dipped from his first year, the 26-year-old Ebron would be an immediate upgrade for the Bears at tight end.

Trey Burton continues to be plagued by injuries, Adam Shaheen’s future remains in question and aside from promising play by J.P. Holtz and Jesper Horsted, the Bears really don’t have certainty at the tight end position.

But considering the Bears’ current salary cap situation — they currently have roughly $16 million in cap space for the 2020 season — it’ll be a challenge. While Pace is likely to find ways to free up more cap space, there are still in-house priorities that need to be addressed, including receiver Allen Robinson, safety Eddie Jackson and linebackers Nick Kwiatkoski and Kevin Pierre-Louis. Still, the Bears could certainly bring Ebron in on an affordable deal.

With tight end such an important offseason need for the Bears, expect Pace to consider free agency and the NFL Draft to upgrade the position.

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